After planning a 56-mile, 10-stop Portillo’s run, my attention turned to another one of my favorite regional food locations: Cincinnati’s beloved and ubiquitous Skyline Chili. I don’t think I could truly make all 20 locations in one day, but theoretically, it would be possible. The route is also designed to allow you to continue going until you run out of time.
The Assumptions
We will again use 12:00/mi (5 MPH) as the target running pace between locations.
With 20 stops, efficiency is paramount. Unlike the previous challenge, time at each location must be minimized. With so many more stops and the goal of hitting 20 locations, we will budget only 10 minutes per stop for ordering, eating, and using the restroom.
When?
Skyline Chili was founded by Nicholas Lambrinides on November 29, 1949. Unfortunately, this falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2025.
The better date would be May 13, 2026. 513 Day celebrates Cincinnati and falls on a Wednesday in 2026. However, due to extended hours on Fridays, I would need to celebrate 513 Day and then wait another day before my run.
The Official 20-Stop Vegetarian Fueling Plan
The goal is to consume a steady stream of calories and carbohydrates to fuel nearly 16 hours of continuous effort, while carefully selecting items to avoid flavor fatigue and digestive distress. I need to eat about 72 grams of carbs for each hour and therefore almost 1200 grams over the entire run and 60 at each stop.
Stop 1: Downtown South
- Location: 254 E 4th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (2:00 PM Sat & Closed Sun)
- ETA: 8:00 AM
- Depart: 8:10 AM
- Fuel: Breakfast Black Beans and Rice Way (680 cal, 65g carbs, 38g fat, 19g protein)
Stop 2: Downtown Central
- Travel: 0.5 miles, approx. 6 minutes.
- Location: 643 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (2:00 PM Sat & Closed Sun)
- ETA: 8:16 AM
- Depart: 8:26 AM
- Fuel: Breakfast Hash Brown Side (350 cal, 40g carbs, 20g fat, 3g protein)
Stop 3: Price Hill
- Travel: 3.6 miles, approx. 44 minutes.
- Location: 3714 Warsaw Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45205
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- ETA: 9:10 AM
- Depart: 9:20 AM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Burrito (630 cal, 66g carbs, 28g fat, 28g protein)
Stop 4: Delhi
- Travel: 3.4 miles, approx. 41 minutes.
- Location: 5137 Delhi Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45238
- Hours: 10:00 AM (11:00 AM Sun) – 10:00 PM (12:00 AM Fri & Sat)
- ETA: 10:01 AM
- Depart: 10:11 AM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Cheese Fry (820 cal, 76g carbs, 47g fat, 24g protein)
Stop 5: Skyline Chili (Western Hills)
- Travel: 3.2 miles, approx. 38 minutes.
- Location: 5476 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45238
- Hours: 10:00 AM (11:00 AM Sun) – 11:00 PM (12:00 AM Thu, Fri & Sat)
- ETA: 10:49 AM
- Depart: 10:59 AM
- Fuel: 3-Way Black Beans and Rice Potato (500 cal, 51g carbs, 23g fat, 23g protein)
Stop 6: Bridgetown
- Travel: 2.5 miles, approx. 30 minutes.
- Location: 5560 Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati, OH 45248
- Hours: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM (11:00 PM Fri)
- ETA: 11:29 AM
- Depart: 11:39 AM
- Fuel: Regular Fry (430 cal, 51g carbs, 24g fat, 5g protein)
Stop 7: Monfort Heights
- Travel: 5.1 miles, approx. 62 minutes.
- Location: 5444 North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45247
- Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- ETA: 12:41 PM
- Depart: 12:51 PM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Chilito with Spaghetti (430 cal, 60g carbs, 14g fat, 18g protein)
Stop 8: Over-the-Rhine
- Travel: 9.4 miles, approx. 113 minutes.
- Location: 1001 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (2:30 PM Mon, 7:00 PM Thu & Fri) (Closed Sun) (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM Sat)
- ETA: 2:44 PM
- Depart: 2:54 PM
- Fuel: 5-Way Black Beans and Rice Potato (550 cal, 64g carbs, 23g fat, 27g protein)
Stop 9: Clifton
- Travel: 2.7 miles, approx. 32 minutes.
- Location: 290 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM (2:00 AM Fri & Sat) (11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Sun)
- ETA: 3:26 PM
- Depart: 3:36 PM
- Fuel: Garlic Bread (380 cal, 52g carbs, 12g fat, 14g protein)
Stop 10: St. Bernard
- Travel: 2.5 miles, approx. 30 minutes.
- Location: 4911 Vine St, St Bernard, OH 45217
- Hours: 8:00 AM (9:00 AM Sat & Sun) – 9:00 PM (8:00 PM Sun)
- ETA: 4:06 PM
- Depart: 4:16 PM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Bowl (470 cal, 54g carbs, 19g fat, 15g protein)
Stop 11: Walnut Hills
- Travel: 4.0 miles, approx. 48 minutes.
- Location: 1216 E McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45206
- Hours: 10:30 AM (11:00 AM Sun) – 9:00 PM
- ETA: 5:04 PM
- Depart: 5:14 PM
- Fuel: 4-Way Onion Potato with Black Beans and Rice (520 cal, 55g carbs, 23g fat, 24g protein)
Stop 12: Norwood
- Travel: 3.0 miles, approx. 36 minutes.
- Location: 4588 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45212
- Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM (11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Sun)
- ETA: 5:50 PM
- Depart: 6:00 PM
- Fuel: Funnel Fries (440 cal, 81g carbs, 11g fat, 3g protein)
Stop 13: Oakley/Hyde Park
- Travel: 2.2 miles, approx. 27 minutes.
- Location: 3081 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209
- Hours: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM (12:30 AM Fri & Sat) (11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sun)
- ETA: 6:27 PM
- Depart: 6:37 PM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Burrito (630 cal, 66g carbs, 28g fat, 28g protein)
Stop 14: Kenwood/Silverton
- Travel: 4.0 miles, approx. 48 minutes.
- Location: 7707 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (1:00 AM Fri & Sat)
- ETA: 7:25 PM
- Depart: 7:35 PM
- Fuel: 4-Way Bean Black Beans and Rice Potato (540 cal, 60g carbs, 23g fat, 26g protein)
Stop 15: Reading
- Travel: 4.3 miles, approx. 52 minutes.
- Location: 8506 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45215
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM (10:30 PM Fri & Sat)
- ETA: 8:27 PM
- Depart: 8:37 PM
- Fuel: Regular Fry (430 cal, 51g carbs, 24g fat, 5g protein)
Stop 16: Woodlawn
- Travel: 3.3 miles, approx. 40 minutes.
- Location: 9907 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn, OH 45215
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM (10:30 PM Fri & Sat)
- ETA: 9:17 PM
- Depart: 9:27 PM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Chilito with Spaghetti (430 cal, 60g carbs, 14g fat, 18g protein)
Stop 17: Finneytown
- Travel: 3.1 miles, approx. 38 minutes.
- Location: 9115 Winton Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231
- Hours: 10:30 AM (11:00 AM Sun) – 10:00 PM (12:00 AM Fri)
- ETA: 10:05 PM
- Depart: 10:15 PM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Bowl (470 cal, 54g carbs, 19g fat, 15g protein)
Stop 18: North College Hill
- Travel: 3.1 miles, approx. 38 minutes.
- Location: 1705 W Galbraith Road, North College Hill, OH 45239
- Hours: 10:30 AM (11:00 AM Sun) – 10:00 PM (11:00 PM Fri, 9:00 PM Sun)
- ETA: 10:53 PM
- Depart: 11:03 PM
- Fuel: Chocolate Cake (420 cal, 69g carbs, 15g fat, 4g protein)
Stop 19: Groesbeck
- Travel: 2.5 miles, approx. 30 minutes.
- Location: 8635 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45251
- Hours: 10:30 AM (11:00 AM Sun) – 10:00 PM (12:00 AM Fri)
- ETA: 11:33 PM
- Depart: 11:43 PM
- Fuel: 5-Way Black Beans and Rice Potato (550 cal, 64g carbs, 23g fat, 27g protein)
Stop 20: Colerain North
- Travel: 2.5 miles, approx. 30 minutes.
- Location: 10197 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45251
- Hours: 10:00 AM (11:00 AM Sun) – 11:15 PM (12:15 AM Fri & Sat, 10:00 PM Sun)
- ETA: 12:13 AM
- Depart: 12:23 AM
- Fuel: Black Beans and Rice Burrito (630 cal, 66g carbs, 28g fat, 28g protein)
Conclusion
Following this plan would mean consuming nearly 10,000 calories and over 350 grams of protein, which may be more than I need. I’ll likely opt for simpler items like hash browns, potatoes, and fries more often. It’s great to know so many vegetarian options exist, but the ultimate goal is to listen to my body and fuel appropriately at each stop.
